english



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. J.- ENGLISH & J. STUBBERS.

GAS MACHINE.

No. 368,660. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

Fly. 1.

b 6 H a a 71/ If m m I Z r I 2 Z Zbdinmsefl: [mi/enters:

20.6 firdz'ms'ivn CW I H QB V IQMW (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. JHENGL-ISH & J. STUBBERS. GAS MACHINE.

N0. 368,660. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

i B c I (if E 1 I I 'iihga 203521 68563. Ll

Z0. 6: Jirdz'nsfim. W

"PETERS, nnnnnn Lilhngm P P nwflsh; n nn mac,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. J. ENGLISH & J. STUBBERS. GAS MACHINE.

N0. 368,660. Patented Aug. 23, 1887.

l0i71686f685 l Znveniors:

Z0. Jirdinsion.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE,

ANDREW J. ENGLISH AND'JOSEPH STUBBERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO SAID ENGLISH AND POWVEL OROSLEY, OF SAME- PLACE.

GAS-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,660, dated August 23, 18817.

Application filed September 24, [886. Serial No. 214,424. (No model.) i I To all whom it may concern:

of that class in which a current of air driven through the evaporating-chambers of a suitably-constructed tank becomes luminiferous by the absorption of vaporized naphtha or other volatile hydrocarbons. V

In Letters Patent No. 333,508, issued J anuary 5, 1886, to Andrew J. English, (one of the joint inventors herein,) there is described an apparatus and system of operation whereby during the winter months, when the absorptive of the air is lessened,the heavier and less volatile constituents of the carbureting-fluid are separated out and collected in a storagercservoir, to be utilized in the summer months when the absorptive capacity of the air is at its maximum.

Our present invention is designed, primarily, to carry out this principle of the alternate storage and utilization of the heavy constituents of the carbureting fluid more efficiently and render theoperation perfectly automatic and under control of the air-supply.

A further feature of our invention is to control the feed of gasoline from one carburetin'gchamber to another by means operated and regulated automatically by the air-supply, and it also embodies certain constructive features, all of which combine to render the apparatus more uniform and satisfactory in its operation for the general purposes of house use.

Mechanism embodying our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical cross-section of a carburetor, complete, with single carburetingchamber and reservoir, embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a similar view of a carburetor embodying two carbureting chambers and reservoir; Figs. 3 and 4-, opposite end elevations of the feed-wheel; Fig. 5, a perspective view, enlarged, of the automatic feed-regulating device; Fig. 6, an isometric projection or diagram of theinternal periphery ofthe drum, indicating the positions of the spiral partitions and the openings; Fig. 7, a vertical crosssection of a carbureting-tank in which the feed of gasoline is upward instead of downward; and Figs. 8 and 9, exhibit details of a modification in the catchtrough devices in a construction wherein but one feed-wheel is employed for two compartments.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the carbureting-tank to which our invention is applied divided into a convenient number of carbureting-compartments, B B, &c., and with a supply-reservoir, G, and a storage-reservoir, D, the latter being for the concentration and temporary storage of the heavy residual gasoline, as set forth in the said Letters Patent before referred to.

In our improved apparatus we feed from the supply-reservior 0 into the first carburetingchamber, B, by means of an automatically-act justed lift-valve, a, as hereinafter set forth, but introduce, as a means of feeding from each of the carburetingchambers to that successively lower, and from the last carburetingchamber to the storage reservoir D, feedwheels E, actuated by the air forced through the machine, these being'constructed and arranged for operation as follows:

The feed-wheels E are cylindrical drums divided by spiral cross-partitions a, extending between the two ends or heads of the drum, each compartment thus formed between partitions being inclosed at the end by the outside heads, a c, of the drum and extending in spiral-wedge form to the central axis of the drum. Each compartment thus formed has radial'acoess-opening b (indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 6) in the drum-head c at the acuteangled junction of one partition and a similarlyformed exitopening, b, at the acuteangled junction of the opposite partition with the opposite head, 0.

The construction and arrangement of partitions and openings will be rendered clear by 5 the isometric projection, Fig. 6. At one side the drum is extended and provided with an outer head, 0 with a central perforation, b, sufficient to admit without contact apipe-eh how, (I, secured to the bottom of the compartment, opening at its lower end into the airspace of the next compartment below and above into the extension drum-space formed by the extra head 0 as shown. The pipe d at its angle furnishes a bearing-support for one end of the axle e of the drum, the opposite end having its bearing-support upon the compartment bottom. The drum is thus mounted, and revolves partly above and partly below the bottom level of the compartment, but in a space cased in by the semi-cylindrical casing f, belonging wholly to the upper compartment. The casing f thus forms a depression in the bottom of the .carbureting-chamber which collects the heavier constituents of the gasoline; and it may now be explained that the function of the wheel or drum E is to lift, by means of small cups 9, attached to its periphery, gasoline from the lowest parts of the depression within the casing f and feed the same into the next lower chamber, or from the lowest carbureting chamber into the storagereservoir D. The construction and arrangement of parts for this purpose are as follows:

The cups 9 are arranged at the outer edge of the drum-casing E, at the side opposite the air-inlet d, and, in descending to the lowest portion of the casing f, fill with gasoline of relatively heavier gravity, which is thence carried up by the cups in the revolution of the drum. Adjacent to the drum, at the discharge side, is an open vertical tube, It, rising through the floor of the compartment above the general surface-level of the contained gasoline. Attached to the upper margin of the tube h, at the side nearest the rotating drum, is pivoted a short, open, shallow trough or conduit, i, so placed as to form a catch-trough beneneath the cups 9 as they reach their discharge elevation, and, by its inclination upon its pivotal support, conduct and discharge the gasoline emptied from the cupsg upon it into or away, as the case may be, from the pipe h, according to the direction of its inclination. This inclination is governed by a float, 9', within the tube h, buoyed by the gasoline in the compartment below, beneath the surface of which contained gasoline the lower end of the tube h extends, said float being connected with the end of the trough t bya stem, in such manner that in case the feed should be excessive and the level of gasoline in the lower compartment rise beyond its proper limit, the discharge end of the trough iwill be elevated by the float, so as to incline the trough away from the tube h, and thus discharge the contents of the cups 9 back into the compartment whence received. The lower end of the tube h is carried nearly, but preferably not quite, to the bottom of the feed-compartment, and is provided with a closing-cap, it, having an outer flange projecting upward, forming a gallery around the lower edge of the pipe it, into which the pipe opens by one or more small perforations, the purpose of which arrangement is to form an independent seal for the tube h: in case the level of the gasoline of the feed-compartment should fall too low, which seal is to prevent the passage of air upward through the the tube h in such case.

The construction thus described, including the rotating drum E and feed devices, is employed in each carburetingcompartment as a means of passing the air from each lower compartment to that next higher, and by the rotative force thereby imparted to the drum feeding the relatively heavier portion of the gasoline from each higher compartment to that next lower, and similarly from the lowest carbureting-compartment to the storage-reservoir D. The operation of the rotating drums is therefore continuous while air is passing through, this being while gas is being used at the burners, and the rapidity of rotation will of course be greater or less in proportion to the quantityof gas being consumed. The feeding of gasoline from the higher to the lower chambers will be also governed in like manner by the proportionate quantity of air passing through, and therefore in proportion to the rapidity of the evaporation taking place in the feed-compartments, thus rendering the entire regulation of the feed automatically dependent upon the requirements of use; but in this another important advantage is secured, to wit: Inasmuch as the absorptive capacity of the air for the vaporized gasoline is greatest when uncharged therewith, and lessens in proportion to the extent to which it is so charged, it is important to expose the heavier and less volatile gasoline to the air in the first instance. This is perfectly accomplished by our improvement, in which the air is admitted, first, into the storage-reservoir, and passes thence successively through the rotating drums from the lowest to the highest carbureting-compartment; but it will be understood from the foregoing explanation that the feeding devices operate to feed only the heaviest constituents of the gasoline in each compartment downward. Consequently in the descending series the general contents of each successive compartment is heavier and less volatile; but as the absorptive capacity of theair is in the same proportion inversely, the net result isa steady saturation of the air and a uniform quantity of its luminiferous vapor. The quantity of non-volatile gasoline or residuum finally collected in the storage-reservoir D will be, therefore, comparatively little, as by the operation described the general vaporization is more complete. Inasmuch, however, as the general absorptive capacity of the air is in proportion to its temperature, and consequently much less in winter than in summer, there will naturally occur a gradual accumulation of the heaviest gasoline in the reservoir D during the winter months. order to govern the extent of this accumulation, and thereby also regulate the rapidity of the downward feed throughout, (as a means of preserving the desired quality of light produced at the burners,) we provide, inconnection with the feedwheel, in the lowest carbureting-compartment, an adjustable cover or shield, Z, pivoted alongside of the catch trough Z, so formed and arranged as to be adjustable laterally over the trough to catch and divert more or less completely the liquid discharged from the feed-cups in their passage. The shield Z is adjusted by a hooked stem or rod, m, projected down through a tube, 12, extended from the top of the tank A through the various compartments and opening into the air-space of the compartment under discussion. The construction and operation are clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, in which the direction of rotation of the drum and feed-cups is indicated by the arrow, and the limits of that portion of the are of cup movement at which the discharge takes place are indicated by the vertical dotted lines.

The manipulating-rod m may be connected by a pivoted link, m, with the shield Z above its pivot-hinge, and by the vertical movement of the rod the shield is adjusted from the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the feed is nearly at the maximum, into the position in- V dicated by dotted lines, in which it covers the catch-trough entirely, all discharge of the cups being in the latter case shed away from the tube h.

The amount of feed can be governed by adjustment of the shield Z to intermediate positions, and this adjustment, it will be observed, is entirely independent of the automatic government of the catch-trough 'Z by the floaty, before described.

The tube n is of course hermetically sealed at the top, the rod on being held upon and adjusted by a screw collar or plug arranged at the top of the tube.

The pipe u may also be utilized as a ventpipe for the carbureting-compartment into which it enters, in case but one earburetingcompartment is used in connection with the storage-reservoir, as in the case illustrated in Fig. 2, in the manner hereinafter described; but where two or more compartments are used a separate vent-pipe, p, is used, extending in the first or upper compartment, B, as shown in Fig. 2. This tube is closed at the top by a suitable plug, and opens by a small perforation, 10, into the air-space of the filling-reservoir (J. The lower end of the tube is carried down to a point just below the desired level of gasoline in compartment B. l The feed-valve 1* has its seat at the bottom of a short tube, 8, otherwise open, extending from just above the floor of reservoir G to a point just below the desired level of the gasoline in compartment B. This feed-valve is a fiat-disk lift-valve seating upon a raised annulus, which in this case is arranged within and at the bottom of the tube 8 at about the level before described, and actuated by a float to open, but closed by an independent spring (not shown) or by its own gravity.

In connection with the valve the tubep or m, as the case may be, operates to prevent the flooding of the compartment B byan accidental displacement or leakage of the valve r, for, should such leakage occur, the gasoline will rise and seal the mouth of the tube 10 or m and prevent the passage of air into the reservoir O, and thereby prevent the feeding of gasoline downward from the reservoir through the valve-opening.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 embodies the same constructive and functional principles, and is intended merely to show that the feeding of the gasoline may be upward between successive chambers instead of downward. In such case the storage-reservoir D will. be arranged above the carbureting-compartments B. In the illustration given the filling-reservoir C is at the top of the tank, the carbureting-chamber B (of which there may be any number) is at the bottom, and the storage-reservoir D between. The feed-wheel E is arranged within a casing-wall, f, opening at the top above the level of gasoline in the storagecompartment D and extending by a closejoint through the bottom partition to a point below the level of gasoline in compartment B. The passage of the air through the tank in such case is from above downward (for example, through pipe 00) and through the wheel E in the opposite direction, and gives it an opposite rotation. To accommodate this movement, the cups are rearranged in position to give the proper discharge, and the pipe d is turned upward by an outer leg, (1, to discharge the air into the air-space of the compartment B.

We do notlimit ourselves to the precise construction of drums E herein described, inasmuch as our invention may be realized by any form of wheel capable of being rotated by the air-supply, and by such rotation feed the gasoline, as set forth; nor do we confine ourselves in the use of the wheel mechanism as a means of feeding from one compartment to another to a carburetor furnished with a storage-reservoir, as the same mechanism is available, as shown, for feeding between the ordinary carbureting-compartments.

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown a modified arrangement of the catch-trough mechanism, whereby a single feed'wheel, E, may be utilized to feed two compartments. In this we employ two feed-tubes, h (as before) and h, the latter extending through the first compartment into a second or storage compartment below, both tubes constructed as before described and extending from the same level above to corresponding levels in their respective compartments below. By the side of the catch-trough t, constructed and arranged as before described, and mounted upon the same pivot, we arrange a second catchtrough, i,

discharging into the same tubelz, butgoverned by a float, j, arranged in the second lower compartment in the tube h.

Instead of the shield Z we here employ a third catch-trough, i pivotally arranged to receive the drip from the feed-wheel and discharge normally upon the catch-trough i, as shown. So long as the trough i remains adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 8 the feed will take place into thetrough hand thence into the first lower compartment until the float therein rises and inclines the trough t to shed the liquid back intothe feeding compartment whence received.

The catch trough 2 is provided with a wide stem, 2, also formed as a trough, which, when the parts are adjusted as shown in Fig. 9, dis charges the drip from the feed-wheel upon the trough i, whence it flows, as before, into the first lower compartment; but the trough t" is governed by the float in pipe h,located in the second lower compartment or reservoir. 0onsequently the feed and overflow can only take place according to the location of the reservoir-compartment. This adjustment is made for the summer months.

In the first lower compartment we arrange an overflow-pipe, y, to the required height, covered by a hood, 3/,surrounding the pipe and tending nearly tothe bottom of the compartment, so that the overflow shall receive the heaviest gasoline.

The height of the tube 3 is so proportioned asto permit a slight overflow of heavy gasoline to take place into the storage-reservoir whenever the feed-compartment is full, and there will be, therefore, a gradual collection of liquid in the storage-compartment. This is arranged to take place in the winter months, for reasons already set forth.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In combination with a carbureting-tank provided with a series of compartments through which the air to -be carbureted sue-- cessively passes, a drum mounted on a central shaft and provided with fixed vanes, said drum being arranged in the air-conduit between successive compartments and provided with a series of cups, whereby the passage of the air rotates said drum and cups and lifts gasoline from one and discharges it into the next suecessive compartment in quantity proportioned to the speed of rotation derived from the airsupply, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the successive conipartments of a carbureting-tank, rotary drums provided internally with fixed vanes located in the path of and constituting the conduit for air between said compartments, provided with cups secured upon said drums, and discharge-tubes self sealing by the gasoline arranged in and through the compartment bottoms, whereby the air-flow in one direction is utilized to rotate the drums and the drums utilized to feed gasoline from one compartment to another in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

3. In a carbureting-tank embodying two or more successive compartments through which .the air is carried in one direction and the feed in such compartments and caused to rotate by the passage of the air through the drums, and a series of receptacles secured to the periphery of said drums lifting gasoline from the bottom of said depressions and discharging the same into conduits extending into the next compartments, respectively, whereby the heavier-com stituents of the gasoline are fed successively forward in the direction opposite to that of the air-inflow, substantially as specified.

4. In a carbureting-tank, a circular partitioned drum mounted upon an axis approximately in the bottom plane of agiven carburetirig-compartment, provided with a hollow extension at one side centrally perforated, in combination with a bent tube extending from outside to inside of said drum-extension through the perforation, open below in the next lower compartment and above within the upper part of the drumextension, and aseries of liquid-receptacles attached to the oppposite peripheral edge of said drum, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a carbureting-tank, in combination with the successive compartments of a carburcting-tank, a feed-drum located in an airconduit between said compartments and operating as and for the purpose described,a discharge-conduit into which gasoline is fed by the drum mechanism to be carried into the next successive compartment, and a pivoted catchtrough provided with and controlled by a float in the lower compartment to govern and direct the flow of gasoline delivered bythe feeddrum into or away from said discharge-eonduit, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with a feed-drum of the character described and a receiving-trough and conduit arranged to convey the fed gasoline into the next successive compartment, an adj ustable shield arranged above said trough and conduit to control the maximum amount of feed into the same from the feed-drum, substantially as set forth.

7. In a carbureting-tank of the character described, in combination with the feed-drum, its receiving conduit or tube, and the catchtrough, a pivoted shield arranged to close over and divert the gasoline more or less completely from said catch-trough and conduit, and its regulating rod extending through a tube open to near the ground-surface and arranged for convenient manipulation of the rod to regulate the position of said shield, substantially as set forth.

8. In a carbureting-tank of the character described, in combination with an air-actuated feed-wheel, a receiving tube or conduit arranged in the drip-path of the feed-cups and extending below the normal level of gasoline in the next lower compartment, provided with a partially-closed bottom having an upturned flange surrounding the lower end of the receiving-tube, forming an annular liquid-space for an independent seal to said tube, substantially as set forth.

9. In a carbureting-tank embodying a feedgasoline and rotated by the air-inflow, a series of cups carried upon the drums to collect and discharge gasoline by the rotation of the drums, and tubes arranged to receive the dis charge from the cups and convey the same to the compartment below, said tubes extending through the compartment bottoms and being normally sealed by immersion in the gasoline of the lower compartment, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. ENGLISH. JOSEPH STUBBERS. Witnesses:

L. M. HOSEA, O. D. KENT. 

